My Cell Prison-Chapter 1245 - 1244: Earth Evil Palace

[Secret Department]

It was a special department established after the Xuan Door coup d’état.

The fundamental intention behind its creation was to ensure that no large-scale political upheaval that could threaten the Tomb Lord’s position would occur again.

Through covert means, a type of "Corpse Bug" that did not interfere with subjective consciousness was generated between the brains of all zombie creatures, becoming the basic method of control for the Secret Department to manipulate the nation’s fate.

Although the Secret Department was named alongside the Six Departments, its overall members never exceeded twenty, as each secret official required approval from the Tomb Lord.

The office area of the Secret Department was modified from the Imperial Pharmacy, located just a thousand steps from the Tai Chi Gate.

The air in the Secret Department area was thick with the strong scent of medicine, mixed with the nauseating stench of corpse decay.

"Han Dong, regarding the ’Corpse Bug flaw’ mentioned in your manuscript, can you start the related work within a short time? We need to achieve research results as soon as possible."

"Sir Yan, could you wait for one hour?"

"Of course, there will be time for rest.

You’ve just been to the Taiji Palace, and the pressure from the Emperor is a great burden on the body. I’ll give you a day of rest then, and we can start the related work tomorrow."

"No need, one hour will suffice."

Han Dong completely revised his hastily written manuscript within an hour.

Carrying the newly completed manuscript, now three times thicker, he went straight to Sir Yan’s office.

Yan Bowen immediately began to scrutinize the more detailed manuscript in front of him.

It not only explained in detail the reasons for the existence of the Corpse Bug flaw but also elucidated, one by one, the solutions to the problem.

The more Yan Bowen read, the more doubts arose in his mind.

He couldn’t quite understand how Han Dong was able to write such a manuscript without various facilities.

Of course, he naturally did not know that Han Dong had a universal analysis instrument in his head.

When Sir Yan read all the way to the last page of the manuscript in one breath, a jade token emanating black aura slid out along with the pages, almost scaring him off his chair.

"This is Death Jade!"

Han Dong placed his fingers on his lips and whispered, "I must ask you, Sir Yan, to keep the matter of the Death Jade strictly confidential. I need to use the identity of [Secret Official] to conceal my daily whereabouts and handle some matters secretly for the Emperor.

I hope Sir Yan won’t assign me too much work."

Sir Yan was utterly baffled.

With Death Jade in Han Dong’s possession, his authority was far greater than that of Sir Yan who wouldn’t dare to assign any work... and Han Dong had already provided an extremely detailed research manuscript, which one could just follow to address the Corpse Bug flaw.

"Who are you exactly... never mind, I don’t have the right to inquire.

With Death Jade in your hands, you are the Emperor’s ’envoy’. I will obey all the requests you present, and I will keep the matter of the Death Jade completely confidential.

Is there anything I can help you with?"

"Sir Yan, have you been to the [Chain Area] located at the lower end of the barrack, and the [Earth Evil Palace] where the corpses of important officials are stored?"

"Been there, but only once for official business.

Besides, with your current identity, it would be more appropriate to call you Sir Han."

"It’s part of concealing identity as well, just treat me as a Secret Official newly on the job, no need to be so formal... I’m just using the Death Jade to handle some matters.

The research manuscript I’ve written could be understood and acted upon by the other secret officials to remove the Corpse Bug’s defects... how about handing the manuscript to your subordinates to deal with, and you can take me to these two places?"

Han Dong’s idea was simple.

He was not familiar with the areas he was about to visit.

If any news were to leak during this time, the ’dangers’ lurking in the shadows could become aware, potentially complicating the situation.

Under the guise of Sir Yan’s identity, going to these two areas under the pretext of official Secret Department business would seem quite normal.

"Alright."

Death Jade was like a decree whose content could be altered at will; Yan Bowen couldn’t refuse the demands that Han Dong proposed.

It was somewhat funny upon reflection; a few hours ago, Han Dong was just a potential Secret Official candidate he had accidentally unearthed, and now he had completely taken the upper hand. The tables had turned so quickly.

"When shall we depart?"

"Now."

Han Dong had slept a full three days and three nights during his return from the Demon Region.

Coupled with a series of conversations with the Tomb Lord, he was brimming with eagerness... Han Dong couldn’t wait to acquire another share of the High-order World, no matter how small, as long as he could seek assistance at a crucial moment.

Moreover, investing in the Tomb Lord, who was extremely talented, was absolutely worth it.

...

[Earth Evil Palace]

Located on the right rear side of the Imperial Palace area.

Compared to other palaces which were guarded by the Black Zombies of the Ministry of Punishment and the Ministry of War, the Earth Evil Palace seemed particularly deserted, with only a decaying, dilapidated coffin placed in the front courtyard.

It was because of this coffin’s presence that the foot traffic at the Earth Evil Palace had been in single digits for nearly a century.

"Due to special reasons, the security of the Earth Evil Palace is personally overseen by one of the highest-ranking zombies in the Brocade Robe Guards, named Yan Quan. Even though he is advanced in years, his strength is enough to rank him within the top three among the current Brocade Robe Guards.

Since this person has a quirky temperament, I rarely deal with him."

Yan Bowen led Han Dong to the decayed wooden coffin.

Immediately, a voice filled with murderous intent emanated from inside.

"Sir Yan, why have you come to the Earth Evil Palace? I have not received any notification about a task from the Secret Department. If there is nothing important, leave quickly and do not disturb my rest."

"Important matter."

Yan Bowen quietly knocked on the coffin surface with ’Death Jade’.

"Hmm!?"

The coffin lid was suddenly pushed open, and a stench of decay wafted out.

A severely decayed corpse with many bones exposed abruptly opened its eyes, and its body sat up.

"Whom do you wish to visit?"

"Academician Du Zhijing."

"What matter... Never mind, follow me."

Yan Quan swallowed his habitual questions.

With Death Jade present, even if the two before him intended to move away all the corpses of the Earth Evil Palace, he had no right to inquire about the reasons.

A Heavy Knife about nine feet long, with its handle embedded with skulls, hung behind Yan Quan.

The flesh on his body was only saturated to 30%, with most of the area being exposed bone; his practice of Corpse Collection was also related to the quality of these bones... Each step he took made an exaggerated noise of bone friction.

"Just through this corridor is the Inner Palace where Academician Du is stored.

According to the regulations, only one person may enter at a time. Sir Yan, your attendant must stay outside. You go in alone."

But unexpectedly.

Sir Yan only stayed at the entrance, yet the one who silently stepped into the Inner Palace corridor was only the ’attendant’ who had been silent the whole time.

"We’re here just to check a small matter, let my subordinate go in and handle it."

"A small matter?"

...

The lavishly decorated Inner Palace, separated by the corridor, was devoid of any stench of rotten corpses, instead, it was unusually fragrant.

A thin, frail corpse was preserved inside a crystal coffin at the very center of the Inner Palace.

"Not bad for a national hero, occupying a whole room by himself?"

As Han Dong slowly approached.

The corpse that had been dead for hundreds of years unexpectedly began to levitate...